I got a 14JK automatic. I want to put 35inch tires on it, but do I really need to put a $700+ lift kit on it and how much of a lift (inches) do I need?
A simple 2.5" budget boost is all you need lift wide to run a 35" tire. 1.5" leveling kit with flat flares. Wheel spacers or less backspaced wheels as well.
I personally don't have a lift and am running 35s. All I have is a stiffer stock set of springs and rubicon shocks, and I cut my pinch seam and fender flares:
What do you plan to do with the rig - pavement princess or offroad? If a pavement princess a budget boost would be fine 2.5 inches. If you plan to offroad, consider a real lift as it will give you not only height but flex.
What do you plan to do with the rig - pavement princess or offroad? If a pavement princess a budget boost would be fine 2.5 inches. If you plan to offroad, consider a real lift w/ quality/ longer travel shocks as it will give you not only height but flex.
I would not run 35s with zero lift. You will rub all over the place - unless you plan to only drive in a straight line on smooth roads and bypass speed bumps. Folks on 33s rub. Your bumpers and fenders will eat your expensive tires at the first sharp turn. Not everything you read on the internet is good advice. Can you-sure. Should you-not so much.
If you have 3.21 gearing you will dislike life a lot on 35s. Some nice 33s and a body boost or level are a good dd pavement driver setup.
I would not run 35s with zero lift. You will rub all over the place - unless you plan to only drive in a straight line on smooth roads and bypass speed bumps. Folks on 33s rub. Your bumpers and fenders will eat your expensive tires at the first sharp turn. Not everything you read on the internet is good advice. Can you-sure. Should you-not so much. If you have 3.21 gearing you will dislike life a lot on 35s. Some nice 33s and a body boost or level are a good dd pavement driver setup.
Look at the picture above that is my jeep without a lift. All I did was trim fenders and trim the pinch seam back a bit. I have absolutely no rubbing with my 35 inch MTR/Ks, not even at full turn. Would it be nice to have my lift in already? Yes. But it is completely fine to have 0 lift. Here is me flexing with 0 lift as well:
In that picture even with the wheel relatively straight it looks like the front tire is right into the marker light and front bumper? The back isnt really flexed out to tell.
They are trimmed fenders and the marker like is against the inner fender lining and I have a poison spyder bfh front bumper (stubby)
I believe I could run a stock bumper considering my tires don't touch my sway bars at full turn. Look at the picture of it level and you can tell the fenders are trimmed
Do what you will to your Jeep. If all you want to do is stuff the largest tire possible there is probably a way to jam in a 36" or pound in a 37" tire with zero lift and increase your turning radius to 50 ft. Even better with the right spacers an no fenders you can run 44" tires. It's feasible to build a farming JK.
Larger tires will no travel will give you ground clearance, a bigger footprint and a better tire to obstacle ratio but you are foregoing half the benefits without a lift that provides room for the tires to flex. For instance the driver front tire in the picture above appears to be providing on air propulsion.
There's another option here for some. Say you have a two door with really low rated springs, and you get a set of high rated 10A four door springs. I've seen gains as much as a lift kit has - 2+ inches in front and over 1 inch in back, just from those coils.
My 4 door gained quite a bit and I had some decent springs to start with too. I'm running 35" Duratracs which run small already, so they are more like 34's. I also have flat flares for extra room, but I could easily run like this with stock flares trimmed and be ok.
Duratracs are a good option for you from what you've said. I use mine on road a lot more than I wheel and they are great in Chicago weather - I still have family there and visit often.
Here's the link for the spring lift. I see the 10A take-offs on eBay and CL often for about $150.
Man you guys act like the OP committed a crime by asking this question. In the end it's a jeep.....
You don't need to spend tons of money to make it what you want it to be and no you don't need a full lift kit. There are tons of guys running 35s no lift and trimmed fenders. Not just running this setup but sure as hell showing those mommymallcrawlers with 37s what's up on the trails. Trimmed fenders will regain you that flex Spinlock brought up. It's kind if funny because I was reading one of his earlier posts saying "flex was only for show..... Also you maintain a low center of gravity ++++++
I run a full lift kit (3.5") + 35s and flat fenders. I didn't need the 3.5" lift kit with the flat fenders but got it for extra clearance for my rockers when I'm in the rock gardens on Mineral Basin trail and Rattlesnake which are right in my backyard and Moab only a few hours away. I run rocker knockers but I'm still glad I have my lift keeping me out off the rocks. The rocker knockers are there as more of a better to have them and not need them (and I did bash my stock ones
Anywho here's a right up from Genright on the subject. Now it is a little bias because I'm sure they'd love to sell you a set of their fenders but still some really good info and you could just trim the stock ones.
Thanks for asking the question. It's a really good one that hopefully others benefit from. Some of the best advice I ever got in life was KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid
Excuse me? I will gladly crawl rocks with any of your friends on 35s with zero lift - and come strap them out when they need it. Just let me know when and where.
If you give my boss a teachers note explaining that I cant work because I need to be out wheeling and she buys it - I would leave as soon as I get my big tires on hopefully next week lol! Seriously tho, sometime Lunatic (my taller hairier half who is also a member here with a big Jeep with a big engine) and I plan to make it up to Moab and I will give you a shout.
I do buy the whole low center/flat fenders philosophy tho I will not disagree with that much - thats why I am only going with a 2.5 inch kit. But zero lift is just a bit too low for me.
Yeah, when you get to Moab give me a shout. I really would love to wheeling with you guys. Seriously. Not trying to be a smart a$$ but if you're willing to throw sarcasm out there about someone else's decision on how they set their jeep up i would hope that you'd be willing to take a little in return.
I think people underestimate what a LCG jeep is capable of. The whole point to jeeping; at least to me, is to use some ingenuity and find the most capable option without over complicating your setup. The more complicated your setup is the more room you have for something to go wrong. The OP asked if it can be done and yes not only can it be done but it is a very effective setup.
Sure it was said in a sarcastic tone to highlight the fact you guys were mocking other members but not sarcastic in the subject matter. I've witnessed stock rubicons with great drivers behind the wheel out wheel plenty of folks who go too big for their britches. When it really comes down to it driver skill and knowing your rig goes a very long way. I'm in no way the worlds greatest driver but am amazed by some people's raw talent.
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